Romance can be a difficult mood to create. There is no one recipe to please the senses and create a state of mind conducive to passion. Planning a Valentine’s Day celebration can be a daunting task for any man or woman.

The State Hornet is here to help. We want to help you maintain a healthy long-term relationship or possibly enjoy the company of a new friend. We are not running personal ads, so be prepared to find your own date.

Not every suitor is a prince with a gold card and a BMW, so we have built a guide to meet any budget. This is, however, only a guide. Be inventive and spontaneous.

Being prepared for any problem is a key to a smooth and hassle-free evening. Have your car checked out if you plan to drive. A flat tire or breakdown can ruin the best-laid plans.

Make reservations, if possible. Restaurants will be crowded. A 30 minute wait for a table can ruin the romance. Communicate with your date. If one person expects dinner and dancing and the other planned a romantic picnic, you will get a fiasco and not a kiss under the stars. ,p>Before you leave the house, be ready. The lady will probably be primped, dressed to the nines and smelling like that bouquet of flowers you should have in your hand. Do the same and you’ll have nailed the first impression.

Be careful, though. Cologne and perfume are powerful and meant to be applied sparingly. Don’t bathe in the stuff! Feel free to stock up on breath mints, though.

BEFORE YOU GET THERE

If you want to splurge on a gift, ring the doorbell holding three dozen roses and a box of Godiva Chocolates (Arden Mall). Remember, with prices hovering at just under $100 per dozen roses and up to $135 for a two-pound Godiva velvet heart, this could set you back close to $500.

Oh, and a couple of etiquette tips – don’t buy a diamond unless you have a proposal to go with it and only buy a negligee if you have already proposed.

Florists all over town will be prepared for their busiest day of the year. They may sell out of roses a day before Valentine’s Day, so order early. Relles (2400 J St.), Conroy’s (2300 Arden Way), Fabulous (5379 H St.) and The Flower Shop (3250 J St.) are all good choices nearby.

If you are behind schedule or simply forgot, try a supermarket or my personal secret weapon, East Lawn Florist (4590 Folsom Blvd.) – connected to the cemetery (Note: Do not steal a bouquet from a headstone).

If you don’t have tons of money to blow on the flowers, don’t be afraid of choosing a smaller mixed arrangement. It will last longer than roses and it gives room to be more creative. Certain flowers connote different meanings. Ask the florist. They can tell you orchids are passionate and daisies are innocent. Trina Pace at Relles’ Flowers explained that, traditionally, red roses signify love, while white were are budding love.

A Romantic CD is a nice addition to a gift of flowers or chocolates, especially if you plan on spending the evening at home. Towerrecords.com offers a guide to find the perfect romantic CD for your honey, whether you’ve been together since high school or just met.

If you’re really broke, a single white rose accompanied by a personally penned poem can do the trick. Look up Shakespeare’s Sonnets to glean a few ideas and some structure. You don’t have to worry about an English department investigation, but don’t plagiarize. If she turns out to be Miss Right, this will backfire on you, big time, when she is writing her wedding vows.

WHERE TO EAT

Choosing a restaurant is important. This is likely your first destination and another way to enhance that first impression. Restaurants in Sacramento have experienced a boom over the past five years – For each restaurant I mention there are ten others just as good. Choose your favorite.

Dinner is probably a better place to splurge than flowers or entertainment. Paying for better food includes better ambiance. This is a two for one. Flowers won’t mean much at all if you eat at Denny’s.

Paragary’s Bar and Oven (1401 28th St.) is for those with higher spending limits. Ambiance here rivals San Francisco’s best eateries and the service will be cultured.

“Our expanded menu for Valentine’s Day focuses on fresh seafood,” said manager Liz Sinclair. “We rely on the freshest local raw ingredients to create superb California cuisine.”

Another high-end establishment is the Firehouse in Old Sacramento (1112 2nd St.), where the elegant ambiance inside extends out onto wooden sidewalks beneath ornate streetlamps. Reservations are required.

If you are not ready to drop $100 on dinner for two, Italian cuisine is a classy, but less expensive choice. There are more good Italian restaurants in Sacramento than there are pledge recruitment booths in the Quad. Andiamo (3145 Folsom Blvd.), Piatti (571 Pavilions Lane), Bucca di Beppo (1249 Howe Ave.), Bravo (2333 Fair Oaks Blvd.), El Espanol (5723 Folsom Blvd.) and even the Olive Garden (1780 Challenge Way) are within a few miles of CSUS. Dinner at Bravo includes the impressive piano talents of Mario Ferrari, a master who has aged gracefully in local piano bars.

If you are really short on cash, consider getting exotic with authentic cultural fare. Spicy food enhances the libido according to the lore of quite a few cultures and a recent medical study. Spice it up with Thai cuisine at Thai Palace (3262 J St.) or Mexican dishes at Ernesto’s (1901 16th St.). Both plan to accommodate a large clientele over the weekend. Reservations are not necessary.

Champagne adds an impressive touch, either with or after dinner, but a bottle of sparkling cider can be more meaningful. (Note to gentlemen: Opening a bottle of sparkling cider can leave a first date more comfortable about your self-control and her own. Sparkling Cider also gives you a sugar high. A silly, happy, excited companion is a lot more fun than a drunken one.) If you decide drinks are in order -they may be obtained later in the evening. “Look for the words ‘estate bottled’ or ‘methode champenois’ on the label,” suggested Josh Nelson, the wine purchaser at Selland’s. The staff at Beverages and More, Corti Brothers, David Berkeley and Selland’s can all help you find a special bottle in your price range.

WHAT NOW?

After dinner, the options are limitless. Dancing, a play, a movie, nightclubs or even a drive with quiet music and conversation can cap off the perfect evening.

A romantic walk in McKinley Park will bring you past duck ponds, green lawns and a rose garden with a few early blooms. Bring something to keep yourselves warm.

Horse-drawn carriages are available for hire on the cobblestone streets of Old Sacramento. But don’t expect a prancing stallion in the traces of an elegant carriage. An ambling old mare will be conducting you down a rather bumpy street in a decidedly Western, but rustic, cab.

Poetry seems to go hand in hand with romance. La Raza Galeria Posada, (7th and O streets) plans a love-themed reading at 7:30 p.m. called Destruction or Love. Luna’s Cafe (1414 16th St.) is another option for live spoken word.

The best opportunity to get physically close is to dance. Clubs across town will be offering special opportunities to get out and shake your thang. Clubs like 815 L Street, Tower Club (1518 Broadway Ave.), Ricci’s (705 J St.) and the new Aqua Bar (7942 Arcadia Dr.) in Citrus Heights are great for getting down.

More romantic settings with strictly cheek to cheek dancing include, Jazzmen’s in Old Sacramento (1107 Front St.), The Cliff House in Folsom (9900 Greenback Lane) and Aces (5321 Date Ave.). All three also offer great food.

Have fun creating an adventure. A little planning can place you in a passionate position.